The Benefits of Eating Wild Game
1.
Many people grew up eating wild game meat. Now there is ample evidence of the healthful
benefits of eating wild game. It is even becoming fashionable to do so as evidenced by the
offerings of wild game in fine restaurants around the country.
2.
In general, game meat is leaner than meat from domesticated animals. The fat on game meat may
have a slightly stronger taste, so you should remove it before cooking. For maximum tenderness,
cook slowly – either braise in liquid, or roast and baste frequently with olive oil or other
polyunsaturated cooking oil.
3.
The following is the nutritional value of a variety of game meats compared with beef or pork.
Nutritional value of game meat (3 ounces/85 grams)*
0.9
Cholesterol
(mg/100g)
112
Calories
(Kcal/100g)
144
22.7
2.0
69
152
Caribou
25.3
3.8
109
167
Deer
23.6
1.4
116
149
Elk
22.8
0.9
67
137
Moose
22.1
0.5
71
130
Pork
22.3
4.9
71
165
Species
Protein %
Fat %
Antelope
22.5
Beef
*Composite of all cuts, trimmed and roasted. Source: USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory
4.
The nutritional value and quality of these meats depend on:
 Type of animal - Deer, elk, moose, caribou, or antelope.
 Age of the animal - Younger animals are usually more tender.
 Diet of the animal - Animals with access to abundant food sources have more body fat
so their meat is higher in fat and calories.
5.
Some game meat is higher in dietary cholesterol than domestic meats, but the combination of more
lean body tissue, generally fewer calories, less saturated fat and significantly higher percentage of
cholesterol-reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids makes game a heart-healthy choice.
6.
Game meat also has a significantly higher content of EPA (Eico Sapentaenoic Acid, a type of omega
3 fatty acid, which is a good type of oil, often referred to as fish oil) than domestic meat. EPA is
thought to reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart disease
and stroke.
7.
Wild game contains more than five times the amount of polyunsaturated fat per gram than is found
in domestic livestock, according to Dr. S. Boyd Eaton of the Emory University School of Medicine.
About 4 percent of wild game fat is poly unsaturated, Eaton reported, whereas domestic beef has an
undetectable amount.
8. Elk And Bison are loaded with vitamins and minerals for the nutritionally minded.
 Bison is listed as one of the five best and most healthful foods for women due to its high
iron and low fat content.
 Bison has less fat and less cholesterol than skinless chicken, and is low in other fats.
Elk meat is low in Sodium. It is a good source of Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Phosphorus. Also
a very good source of Protein, Vitamin B12, and Zinc.
Source: North Dakota State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
9. Replacement Value Chart
 The replacement of a serving of beef with a serving of moose would have the positive
effect of 30.9% more of the good polyunsaturated fat, 21.3% less monounsaturated fat,
and 9.7% less of the bad saturated fat per serving.
 The replacement of a serving of beef with a serving of elk would gave the positive effect of
16.7% more of the good polyunsaturated fat, and 18.9% less monounsaturated fat.
 Replacing a serving of domestic duck with a wild mallard duck would have the positive
benefit of 2.25% less fat, 4% more protein and 28 fewer calories per serving.
 Replacing a serving of lamb with a serving of buffalo would have the positive benefit of
3.8% less fat, and 29 fewer calories per serving.
 The Best Part Of Game Meat Is Eating It.
10. The virtues of game meat are especially important to people with specific health conditions,
including heart disease or kidney failure.
Nutrition Content of Game Meat
Mayo Clinic
Web-site: www.mayoclinic.com
Tips and Recipes
Web-site: www.huntingfortomorrow.com
“What’s New” then “Tips & Recipes”
www.riflesandrecipes
www.cookwildgame.com
www.fishersnet.com
www.huntinginfo.com/recipes.htm
Hunting For Tomorrow
Kelly Semple, Executive Director
# 87, 4003 - 98th Street,
Edmonton, Alberta. T6E 6M8
Phone: 780.462.2444 or Fax: 780.431.2871
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our web site: www.huntingfortomorrow.com
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